LOS ANGELES — In a heartwarming twist of fate, a Gardena, California police officer embraced a new furry family member on Christmas Eve. This act of kindness followed the officer’s rescue of the pup from a self-compacting trash bin outside a nearby church just days earlier.

On December 19, Sergeant Nick Beerling of the Gardena Police Department responded to reports of “faint whimpers and cries” emanating from an automatic trash bin located on Normandie Avenue in Southern California, as reported by the spcaLA South Bay Pet Adoption Center.

To free the distressed dog, animal control and the fire department were summoned for assistance. Upon breaking the lock and gaining entry, officers discovered a 1-year-old terrier, according to WJAC.

“We found a small terrier-type dog perched atop the trash, shivering and whimpering, clearly in need of help,” Beerling shared with WJAC. “As we investigated further, we realized it was a self-compacting bin that could have tragically crushed him.”

The nonprofit organization remarked that the dog had been “discarded like trash.”

The dog was taken to the spcaLA South Bay Pet Adoption Center and named Flan. 

After staying at the center for a few days, and getting neutered, Flan was adopted by the Beerling family. 

“The girls and I have been trying to convince him to get another pet for a while, and he hasn’t wanted to commit but this little guy just tugged on his heart,” Beerling’s wife told WJAC.

The family renamed their new pup Norman after the street he was found and rescued on.

“⁠This is one rescue we’ll never forget,” the shelter said in a social media post. “The Beerling family is incredibly excited to take him home.”